Dispensing machines with multiple selection

ABSTRACT

In a hot drink dispensing machine with multiple selection the valve means for selectively feeding not water from a source thereof to a mixing station where the hot water is mixed with a drink component preferably is arranged so that one of the valves is always in open condition to maintain a constant characteristic from the hot water supply onwards, so that a constant quantity of hot water is dispensed each time; the system also includes a venturi and a reservoir to maintain the hot water level constant.

United States Patent Howard Diebel Jordon Station, Ontario, Canada792,363

Jan. 21, 1969 June 22, I971 Moyer Dlebel Limited.

Jordon Station, Ontario, Canada Inventor Appl. No Filed PatentedAssignee DISPENSING MACHINES WITH MULTIPLE SELECTION 6 Claims, 2 DrawingFigs.

U.S.Cl ZZZ/129.4, 222/144.5,222/504, 137/637 Int. Cl 867d 5/60 FieldofSearch 222/504, 129.4, 129.3, 129:1, 108, 144.5, 545; 137/637, 637.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,266,670 8/1966 Brooks etal 222/ 1 29.4 X 3,335,911 8/1967 Stutz 222/129.4 3,385,569 5/1968Bookout 222/l29.4 X

Primary ExaminerRobcrt B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-H. S. LaneAttorney-Church & Rogers ABSTRACT: In a hot drink dispensing machinewith multiple selection the valve means for selectively feeding notwater from a source thereof to a mixing station where the hot water ismixed with a drink component preferably is arranged so that one of thevalves is always in open condition to maintain a constant characteristicfrom the hot water supply onwards, so that a constant quantity of hotwater is dispensed each time; the system also includes a venturi and areservoir to maintain the hot water level constant.

THERMOSTAT PATENTEUJUN22|97| 35 2114 sum 1 OF 2 THERMOSTA INVIJN'I'UKHOWARD DIEBEL PATENT AGENTS PATENTEUJUN22IB7| 3,5 6,214

' SHEET 2 OF 2 IINVIL'N'IUR. HOWARD DIEBEL BY M r?! PATENT AGENTSDISPENSING MACHINES WITH MULTIPLE SELECTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention is concerned with improvements in or relating to dispensingmachines with multiple selection, and especially to such machines of thetype wherein solid drink constituents are mixed with hot water beforedelivery to a drink dispensing station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a new dispensing machine of the type providing multipleselection.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new valve assemblyfor use in the dispensing machine of the type specified.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided adrink-dispensing machine with multiple selection comprising adrink-dispensing station, a source of water, a mixing station for eachdrink discharging to the said dispensing station,

means for selectively feeding through the respective mixing station thedrink component of a selected drink, a respective valve for each mixingstation and for selectively feeding water from the said source to therespective mixing station, main pipe means for supplying water to theinlets of the said valves in parallel with one another, separate pipemeans for each valve for feeding water from the outlet of the respectivevalve to the respective mixing station, and valve operating means forselectively operating said valve so that one of the valves is always inopen condition.

Also in accordance with the invention there is provided adrink-dispensing machine comprising a drink-dispensing station, a sourceof water, at least one mixing station for a drink discharging to thesaid'dispensing station, means for feeding drink component to the mixingstation, valve means for selectively feeding water from the source tothe mixing station, first pipe means for feeding water from the saidsource to the valve means, second pipe means for feeding water from thevalve means to the mixing station, a venturi unit in the said first pipemeans, and a reservoir connected to the venturi float and adapted toreceive water from the venturi unit upon the level rising above theventuri throat and to supply water to the venturi unit upon the levelfalling below the venturi throat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A particular preferred embodiment will nowbe described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdiagrammatic drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of adispensing machine in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 2 shows to a larger scale a detail of a valve arrangement of themachine of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now especially toFIG. 1, there are shown three containers l0, l, and each containing arespective drink constituent powder, for example, a chocolate mixture, asoup mixture or instant coffee. A respective screw conveyor 1 l, 11 or11" is mounted at the bottom of each container and is arranged todischarge a predetermined quantity of the respective powder through arespective outlet l2, 12 or 12" into a respective funnel l3, 13' or13''. The screw conveyor is rotated as required by means of a respectiveelectric motor 14, M, or 14'', which is connected to the respectiveconveyor shaft l5, 15 or 15" through a suitable clutch l6, l6 or 16";the conveyor being rotated when required to discharge sufficient powderfor a single drink, Each motor 14 is operated as requiredin response tothe operation of a selector switch 17, mounted in a suitablecoin-operated selector mechanism of any suitable type, as known to thoseskilled in the art, and indicated generally by reference 18. The powerto operate the motors and any other electrically operated part of themachine is obtained from a suitable power source applied to terminalsl9;

Upon the selection of a drink by rotating the selector switch 17, andafter the payment therefor, a measured quantity of hot water must besupplied to mix with the powder constituent. In this embodiment suchsupply is achieved by the timed opening of a solenoid valve 20 under thecontrol of the selector 18, the valve being interposed between the mainsupply of cold water under pressure and the interior of an insulatedtank 21 containing a conventional thermostatically controlled heatingunit, supplied from the terminals 19, the said unit maintaining thecontents of the tank 21 at a predetermined temperature. The timedopening of the valve 20 introduces a predetermined quantity of coldwater into the bottom of the tank, thereby displacing a correspondingamount of hot water from the top of the tank, which passes via a venturiunit 22, a pipe 23, a valve unit 24 (to be described in greater detailbelow) and a selected one of pipes 25, 25' or 25" to a correspondingmixing funnel 13, 13 or 13'. The water and powder enter respectivefunnel 13 together and pass into a respective mixing chamber 26, 26 or26", the arrangement being such that the hot water rinses the powderinto the mixing chamber and the two constituents are mixed therein asthoroughly as possible. The mixture passes from the chamber 26, 26, or26" via a respective pipe 27, 27 or 27" to a cup 28, which haspreviously been fed automatically by a conventional cup-feedingmechanism (not shown) to a dispensing station 29.

For convenience of illustration only three containers l0 and theircorresponding drink-dispensing mechanism are illustrated herein, and ineach case the drink produced consists of a single powder constituentmixed with water, such as hot chocolate or soup. The drink most commonlydispensed in such machines is coffee, and a somewhat more complicatedarrangement is required, because of the necessity of supplying black orwhite cofi'ee, with or without sugar. In an arrangement of theabove-described machine suitable for this purpose containers of instantcoffee powder, synthetic cream powder and sugar are arranged todischarge into a single large funnel l3", and the conveyor motors 14associated therewith are operated selectively in accordance with thetype of coffee required; hot water is supplied to the correspondingfunnel from the pipe 25 and is arranged to mix and rinse the selectedpowders, the resultant mixture being discharged via the pipe 27 to thecup 28.

A number of problems are encountered in the construction and operationof dispensing machines intended for multiple choice selection asdescribed above. One major problem is to provide a simple and economicalvalve system that will deliver an accurately measured quantity of hotwater at all times to the selected funnel, so that the purchaser willreceive a satisfactory drink. This desired result can be achieved withthe valve system described and illustrated herein and shown particularlyin FIG. 2.

Since there are three possible destinations for the hot water the valveassembly 24 comprises three valves 30, 30 and 30", mounted on a suitablebaseplate 31. The pipe 23 is connected to inlet bore 32 of valve 30,while the inlet bores 32, 32" and 32 of all three valves are permanentlyconnected together by connecting pipes 33, as will be seen most clearlyin FIG. 2. Each valve ,is of the diaphragm type and comprises aresilient diaphragm 34, 34' or 34", which is pressed upwards as seen inFIG. 2 by means of a respective operating rod 35 until it engages andcloses a respective port 36. With the port 36 open the water enteringthe inlet bore 32 passes freely through the port to a chamber 37 andthence to an outlet port 38 to which the respective pipe 25 isconnected.

FIG. 2 shows what can be considered the normal condition of the valveassembly, and it will be seen that the centrally disposed valve 30" isnormally in open position, while the two other valves 30 and 30 arenormally in closed position. A lever 39 pivoted to thebaseplate 31 on apivot 40 engages the valve rods 35 and 35", and is urged to rotate in aclockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 2) by a helical tension spring 41connected between the baseplate and the corresponding free end of thelever. Similarly, another lever 39' engages the valve rods 35" and 35',is pivoted on a pivot 40' to the baseplate,

and is urged to rotate in anticlockwise direction about the pivot 40' bya respective tension spring 41. Respective electromagnets 42 and 42' aremounted on the baseplate adjacent the free ends of the levers and arecontrollable selectively by supplying actuating current thereto from theselector mechanism 18 under the control of the switch 17 thereof. Aperforated plate 43 receives the free ends of the rods 35 and guidesthem for rectilinear motion.

In the absence of an actuating current to either of the electromagnetsthe valves take the position shown in FIG. 2, and the hot water fed tothe valve assembly from the pipe 23 passes to the outlet 38" of thecentral funnel 13'. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat a usual arrangement will be for the central valve 30" and pipe 25"to supply the most popular drink, which in the selection described aboveis usually coffee. If the electromagnet 42 is now actuated, uponrotation of the switch 17 to select the corresponding drink, the lever39 is rotated in anticlockwise direction, pulling down the operating rod35 and opening the valve 30, and pushing upward on the operating rod 35"and closing the valve 30". The hot water now passes via the valve 30 andthe pipe 25 to the respective funnel 113. Similarly, if the otherelectromagnet is actuated, the lever 39' is rotated clockwise, closingthe central valve 30" and opening the other valve 30 to supply the hotwater to the pipe 25 and the funnel 13'. The connection of the twolevers 39 and 39' with the central rod 35" is provided with a suitablelost motion to ensure that the movement of this rod does not produce acorresponding movement of the valve rod which is not intended to beactuated.

Since at all times one of the valves 30, 30' or 30" is open the systemfrom the top of the tank 21 to the ends of the tubes 25 has a constantcharacteristic, which is not changed as the valves are operated, so thatsubstantially the same quantity of liquid will be supplied to thedispensing station, no matter which of the valves is operated. Althoughin this embodiment the bodies of the valves are shown as separate unitsconnected to one another, in other embodiments these bodies may beformed together as a single integral unit. lt will also be apparent thatin machines requiring only two selections two valves would be used,while in machines requiring more than three selections the appropriatenumber of valves would be used, the inlets of the valves being in freecommunication with one another, as described above.

Another problem encountered in multiple choice equipment of this typeresults from the fact that cold water enters the reservoir 21 anddisplaces a corresponding quantity of hot water. The entering cold watermixes with the water in the tank, quickly reaches the same temperatureas the water therein and thereby assumes a greater volume. Also, thequantity of water admitted by the valve is not precisely constant, withthe result that the level of the water in the reservoir may vary veryconsiderably. If the level rises unduly, for example, until the pipe 23is full, some of the water delivered to the dispensing station 29 mayhave been in the pipe for a considerable length of time where it isunheated, so that the first drink delivered from the machine is too coldfor the purchasers taste. Another situation may arise when the machineis used for a relatively large number of drinks over a short period oftime, whereupon the general level of liquid in the reservoir tends tofall; if a drink is now dispensed before the whole of the liquid in thetank has heated there is the possibility that the next drink is given ashort measure of water.

These disadvantages may be avoided with a machine in accordance with theinvention by the provision of the venturi unit 22 and an associatedreservoir 44 having its inlet connected to the throat of the venturi viaa capillary tube 45 and having an outlet 46 to the ambient atmosphere.

As the water in the tank 21 expands it moves slowly through the venturiunit and passes through the capillary tube 45 into the reservoir 44, theentry of a relatively large quantity of water into the reservoir causingrelatively little change in the effective water level. Any excess waterin the pipe 23 will run back and also pass into the reservoir. If aftera number of drinks have been dispensed the level of the water in thetank is below the level of the throat of the venturi, water will flowfrom the reservoir 44 through the capillary tube 45, so that arelatively constant level of water is obtained. When the valve 20 opensto dispense a drink the water moves relatively quickly through theventuri unit generating a low vacuum at the venturi throat, so thatthere is no tendency for the water passing quickly in the pipe 23 toenter the reservoir 44. Because of the existence of the said slightnegative pressure, there is a tendency for water to move from thereservoir 44 to the pipe 23, but a negligible amount can flow throughthe capillary tube 45 during the relatively short time that the valve 20is open.

It will be understood that a particular preferred embodiment of theinvention has been described herein, and that various modificationsthereof are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A drink-dispensing machine with multiple selection comprising adrink-dispensing station, a controllable source of water, a mixingstation for each drink discharging to the said dispensing station, meansfor selectively feeding to the respective mixing station the fiavorcomponent of a selected drink a respective valve for each mixing stationand for selectively feeding water from the said source to the respectivemixing station, main pipe means for supplying water to the inlets of thesaid valves in parallel with one another, separate pipe means for eachvalve for feeding water from the outlet of the respective valve to therespective mixing station, and valveoperating means for delivering waterfrom said source and for selectivity operating said valves so that oneof the valves is always in open condition.

2. A drink-dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising aventuri unit in the said main pipe means, and a reservoir connected tothe venturi throat and adapted to receive water from the venturi unitupon the level rising above the venturi throat and to supply water tothe venturi unit upon the level falling below the venturi throat.

3. A drink-dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a heatedthermostatically controlled water reservoir for supplying hot water anda supply valve connected between the interior of the reservoir and asource of cold water under pressure, and wherein the quantity of hotwater supplied to the said valve means is determined by a timed openingof the said supply valve.

4. A drink-dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valvemeans comprises three valves, a first differential operating means forclosing one-of the valves and simultaneously opening another of thevalves, and a second differential operating means for closing said onevalve and simultaneously opening the third valve.

5. A drink-dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the saidvalve means comprises three valves, a first differential operating meansfor closing one of the valves and simultaneously opening another of thevalves, and a second differential operating means for closing said onevalve and simultaneously opening the third valve, and wherein eachdifferential operating means comprises a respective pivoted lever andmeans for rotating the lever about its pivot, the lever being engagedwith respective control members of the two associated valves to open onevalve and close the other upon said rotation.

6. A drink-dispensing machine comprising a drinkdispensing station, acontrollable source of water, at least one mixing station for a drinkdischarging to the said dispensing station, means for feeding flavorcomponent to the mixing station, valve means for selectively feedingwater from the source to the mixing station, first pipe means forfeeding water from the said source to the valve means, second pipe meansfor feeding water from the valve means to the mixing station, a venturiunit in the said first pipe means, and a reservoir connected to theventuri throat and adapted to receive water from the venturi unit uponthe level rising above the venturi throat and to supply water to theventuri unit upon the level falling below the venturi throat.

1. A drink-dispensing machine with multiple selection comprising adrink-dispensing station, a controllable source of water, a mixingstation for each drink discharging to the said dispensing station, meansfor selectively feeding to the respective mixing station the flavorcomponent of a selected drink a respective valve for each mixing stationand for selectively feeding water from the said source to the respectivemixing station, main pipe means for supplying water to the inlets of thesaid valves in parallel with one another, separate pipe means for eachvalve for feeding water from the outlet of the respective valve to therespective mixing station, and valve-operating means for deliveringwater from said source and for selectivity operating said valves so thatone of the valves is always in open condition.
 2. A drink-dispensingmachine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a venturi unit in the saidmain pipe means, and a reservoir connected to the venturi throat andadapted to receive water from the venturi unit upon the level risingabove the venturi throat and to supply water to the venturi unit uponthe level falling below the venturi throAt.
 3. A drink-dispensingmachine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a heated thermostaticallycontrolled water reservoir for supplying hot water and a supply valveconnected between the interior of the reservoir and a source of coldwater under pressure, and wherein the quantity of hot water supplied tothe said valve means is determined by a timed opening of the said supplyvalve.
 4. A drink-dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidvalve means comprises three valves, a first differential operating meansfor closing one of the valves and simultaneously opening another of thevalves, and a second differential operating means for closing said onevalve and simultaneously opening the third valve.
 5. A drink-dispensingmachine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said valve means comprisesthree valves, a first differential operating means for closing one ofthe valves and simultaneously opening another of the valves, and asecond differential operating means for closing said one valve andsimultaneously opening the third valve, and wherein each differentialoperating means comprises a respective pivoted lever and means forrotating the lever about its pivot, the lever being engaged withrespective control members of the two associated valves to open onevalve and close the other upon said rotation.
 6. A drink-dispensingmachine comprising a drink-dispensing station, a controllable source ofwater, at least one mixing station for a drink discharging to the saiddispensing station, means for feeding flavor component to the mixingstation, valve means for selectively feeding water from the source tothe mixing station, first pipe means for feeding water from the saidsource to the valve means, second pipe means for feeding water from thevalve means to the mixing station, a venturi unit in the said first pipemeans, and a reservoir connected to the venturi throat and adapted toreceive water from the venturi unit upon the level rising above theventuri throat and to supply water to the venturi unit upon the levelfalling below the venturi throat.